Labeling and stamping machine



Jan. 8, 1929. l

L. FISCHER LABELING AND` STAMPING MACHINE 13 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Dec.29, 1926.

.. NNY

Jan. s, 1929. l 1,698,535

L. FISCHER,

LABELING AND STAMPING IACHINE l Filed Dec. 29, 1926 13 Sheets-Sheet 2attain,

Jan. s, 1929. 1,699,585

L. FISCHER LABELING AND STAMPING IACHINE Filed nec. 29. 192s 13sheets-'Sheet 5 a @M/7W annum,

Jan. 8, 1929. 1,698,585

L. FISCHER LABELING AND STAMPINGMACHINE Filed Dec. 29, 192e 15sheets-sheet 4 Jan. s, 1929. f 1,698,585

' L. FISCHER LABELING AND STAMPING HACHINE Filgd nec. 29, 192s 13sheets-sheet 5 g @la v y .l

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' L. FISCHER LABELING AND STAMP-ING MACHINE Filed Dec. 29, 1926 13Sheets-Sheet 6 Jan. 8, 1929. L. FlsHER mamme AND summe ummm Filed Dec.29, 1925 15 Sheets-Sheet 7 Jan. 8, 1929'. 1,698,585

y A L. FISCHER LABELING AND I STAMPING MACHINE Filed nec. 29, 192e 13sheets-sheet 8 attain,

Jan. 8, 1929. 1,698,585 y l. FISCHER l' manina .um .swurna Inclusa mannec. 29,' 1926 1s' sneu-snm' 9 @gw Ew? @HM I V x V I vr d Y (X Jan. Y8,1929. 1,698,585

L. FISCHER LABELIHG AND STAIPIHG IACPHE ruud Dec'. 29, 1926 v 13Sheng-5ba u.:

AHI/TAT@ Wifi/1%?! .um s; 1929.

- 1,698,585 l..V FISCHER manne mn smarmc morirme Filed Dec. 29, 1.926 13Sheets-Sheet 12 .lm-1.8, 1929'.vv 1,698,585

l. FISCHER LABBLING .um STAIPING ncnnis Filed-Dec. 29. 1926 l 13Sheets-Sheet 15 `35 in closed position,

Patented Jan. s, 1929.

`UlaITl-:n STATES PATENT oFFlcE.

lLOUIS FISCHER, OF PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOR T WHIGHTS AUTO-i MATIC TOBACCO PACKING MACHINE COMPANY, OF DURHAM, NORTH CAROLINA, A

CORPORATION OF WEST 'VIRGIN IA.

LAI-BEIJING AND STAMPING MACHINE.

Application led December 29, 192.6'. Serial No. 157,788.

NThe present invention relates to improvementsin machines for applyinglabels or similar outer Wrappers and also stamps, such as revenuestamps, to packages, as for example tobacco pouches, and the primaryobect is to provide a novel and improved machine of this class'which. iscapable of operating rapidly and efficiently to perform both operationsof applying the labels or outer wrappers and applying'. or aliixing thestamps to the labeled packages, separate machines for performing thesetwo operations being thereby rende-red unnecessary and the combinedmachine .being capable of operation with 3-3 of Figure 1.

greater facility and less expense than has.'

been possible wherea separate labeling machine and a separate stampingmachine were used,.as heretofore.

' Another object of the invent-ion is to provide novel folding the endsof-the labels or 'wrappers applied to the packages, and for applying thel AStamps to the labeled packages, and mecha.-

`nisms for bringing the packages to the ,folding and stamping positionsand for removing the stamped packages from the latter position wherebyrapidity and certainty in operation and uniformity in the labeled vandstamped packages are assured. A further object'- of the invention is toprovide novel and improved means for crimping the end folds of thepackages whereby permanency o f the closures is attained and the endfolds are given a set which holds them thereby` facilitating the aiixingofthe stamps to such ends of the packages. i i

'To these 'and other ends, the invention consists in certainimprovements and combinao tions and arrangements of parts, all as willbe hereinafter more fully described, the features of noveltybeingpointed out'particularly in the claims at the end of the specificadtion. In the accompanying drawings Figure 1 is a 'side elevation Vof themain portion of a' labeling and stamping machine constructed inaccordance with the preferred embodiment of the invention. v Figure 2represents a vertical longitudinal sect-lon through the machineas shownin Figure .1, Sheriee themebeelses for feeding land improved mechanismsyfor the packages and the labels or wrappers to the machine, land alsoshowing operating means for the mechanisms of the machine.

Flgure 3 represents 'a horizontal section through the label andpackage-feeding means, the section being taken on the line Figure 4represents a vertical section through the label-folding mechanism, takenon the line 4-4 of Figure 1.

Figure 5 represents a vertical sect-ion on.

the line 5-5 of Figure l showing the partly folded label or wrapper.

Figure 6 represents a vertical section through the' package-feedingmeans on the line 6-6 of Figure 3.

Figure 7 is a side elevation of the carrier which transfers the labeledpackage from the label end-folding position to the stamping' position,the carrier in this figure being shown 1n positlon to receive thepackage occupying the label end-folding position.

F lgure 8 1s a View similar to Figure 7, showing the carrier swungupwardly to bring the package to the stamping position.

igure 9 shows the carrier as viewed from the right in Figure 8, 'themembers of the carrier being shown in package-advancing position by thefull lines and in packageclearing positionby the dotted lines.

Figure 10 is a detail sectional view showing the lingers which receiveand hold the package in position for folding the ends of the wrapperthereon, this view also showing the 'carrier which brings the packageinto the label end-folding positlon.

Figure 11 shows the fingers released by the carrier which transfers thepackages to the `stampin g position.

Figure 12 is a view similar to Figure 11 showing the package removedfrom the ingers which held it in end-closing position, the package beingshown on its way to stamping position.

Figure 13 shows the package after it has reached the stamping position,the transfer carrier being still engaged with the package.

lustration.

Figure 'is a side lelevation in detail of the mechanism which fglgds andcloses the upper end of the label or wrapper.

Figure 16 shows the label end-folding ,mechanism as viewed from theupper left hand side of Figure 15.

Figure 17 shows thev label end-foldingmechanism as viewed from thellower left hand side of Figure 15.

Figure 18 represents a transverse vertical section through the deliveryend of the machine on the line 18-18 of Figure 1.

Figure 19 represents a vertical transverse section through the machineon the line 19- 19 of Figure 1.

Figure 20 is a side elevation of the mechanism which ailixes a stampacross the upper end of the labeled package and indents such end of thepackage and creases the folds which close it.

Figure 21is an elevation of the stamp afixing and indenting and crimpingmechanism as viewed from the right in Figure A20.

Figure 22 is a side elevation of a'portion ofthe mechanism shown inFigure 20, the mechanism being lowered on the end of the packageto'press -the same thereon to indent the end of the package, and tocrease the end folds of the wrapper, one ofthe crimping members beingomitted for clearness in nilelevation of the mechanism shown in Figure22 as Viewed from the right in that ligure, one ofthe crimping membersbeing omitted for clearness in illust-ration.

igure 23 is an ing the manner in which the label or uter Figure 24 is adiagrammatic view illsatypackage prior to the folding o wrapper isgummed and is engaged by he fthe lab or wrapper thereon; l A I Figure 25is a perspective view illustrating the manner in which the label orouter wrapper is first engaged by the package;

Figure 26 is a diagrammatic view in perspective showing the .first foldof the label on the package; v

Figure 27 is a. view similar to Figure 26 but showingthe lower cornerfolds of the label.;

`Figure 28 is a view similar toFigures 26 and 27 but showing the irstlongitudinall 'foldof the label;

Figure 29 is a. perspective view of the package and a label thereonafter the second l.longitudinal fold has been. made;

Figure 30 is a perspective view of a package and .a label thereon,showing the first l end folds of the label;`l

Figure 31 is a view similar to Figure 3Q,

showing the second end fold;

Figure 32 is a view similar to Figures 30 and 31 but showing the thirdor final end fold, this figure showing the labeled packand retracted .atappropriate intervals by a age ready to receive the stamp.V Y. f

Figure 33 is a detail view of the driving means for the package transferslide;

Figure 34 is a detail of the driving means for one of the end folders;

'- Figure 35 is a detail of the driving' means for the stamp-afiiXingbrushes;

Figure 36 is a detail view showing part of the driving means for the armwhich advances the row of labeled and stamped packages' v l:Figure 37 isa detail'viewshowing the driving means .for the stamper;

.Figure 38 is a detail view showing the driving 4'means for the package.feeding plunger; and s Figure 39 is a detail view showing the drivingmeans for the mechanism which advances.

to a package and to aiixa stamp or an equivalent therof to the folded orclosed end of the label or wrapper. The invention is particularlyapplicable tothe labelinv of tobacco packages or pouches and the axingof the revenue stamps thereto,- the machine shown in the accompanyingdrawings vbeing'adapted to that particular application of the invention.While the invention is shown in its preferred form inthe accompanyingdrawings, and such embodiment will be hereinafter described in detail,it is. to'be understood that the invention is not restricted to theparticular construction shown as equivalent constructions arecontemplated and such will be included within the scope of the claims.

The labeling and stamping' mechanisms embodying the present inventionare shown in the present instance as mounted on a suitable table orframe 1 (Figures 1 and 2). The labels or Wrappcrs'may be. fed along achannel'.2 bya conveyer 3, the label-feeding and paste-applying meansbeing similar, for cxample, to that shown and described in the patent toE. L. Bracy No. "1,234,722, granted July 3.1, 1917.- The labels aredelivered successively by continuously driven rolls 4to an upright chute5 in which each label X, after delivery' thereto, is adaptedto stand inan'upi right position with its' lower end resting on a stop 6 whichmaybe. provided with a screw 7 for adjusting the height of the'label inthechute. Theintermediate`A portionA .of 4the s chute-is .formed withregistered openings 8 through which a package Y is adapted to pass in anendwise direction during the forward stroke of a plunger 9 which maybeadvanced .vals by the face cam 10 on the shaft v43 of the machine(Fig. 33). The shaft'43 also drives the label feeding means through thechain 3a.

Packages lnade up for ekample of charges' of tobacco contained 1nwrappers which may be closed by folds at the ends thereof, are suppliedto a magazine 12 which is supported on and arranged vertically on theupper side of the table, the packages being stacked or arranged insuperposed relation in the magazine, with the lowermost package restingon the topof the table. A package-guiding.

channel 13 extends fromv the bottom of the magazine to a point which isin front of the plunger 9 when the -latter is retracted, as shown inFigure 2, an .abutment 14 being arranged at the end of this channel toarrest the movement of the package when it reaches a position inlongitudinal alinement with the plunger, and a hinged cover 15 may heprovided at this end of the package-guiding channell to prevent upwarddisplacement of the package although affording access to the interior ofthe channel or the packages the-rein should occasion therefor arise. Apackage-ejecting plunger 16 is arranged to reciprocate through thebottom of the package magazine, this plunger as shown comprising a head17 which is slidable on beneath the table, theV head being'connected bya link 19 to an arm 20 which receives motion from a cam 200 on thecontinuously driven shaft 201 to cause the plunger 16 to move toward theleft in Figures '3 and 6, after the plunger 9' has been retracted,thereby introducing a package into the space op-v posite to the forwardend of the plunger 9. Each stroke of the plunger 16 vpushes thelowerm-ost package from the bottom of the stack contained in themagazine 12, the remainder of the stack resting on and being temporarilysupported in raised position bv.

the flat top of the plunger 16, and the ejected package is thus causedto push the'pz-ickages ahead of itin the channel 13 toward the left,thus bringing the foremost package into p0- sition to be acted on by theplunger 9. When the plunger 16 is retracted, the stack of packages inthe magazine 12 is permitted to drop by gravity on to the bottom ofthechannel 13.

Each stroke of the plunger 9 toward the right in Figures 1 and 2 causesa package inl front of it to be advanced in the sanie direction. Suchadvance of the package moves it endwise through the registered openings8 in the upright label guide 5, and in so doing the foremost end of thepackage engages the middle or intermediate portion of a label Xpositioned in the chute, and causes this label a guide rod 18 to bedoubled or folded overthe foremost end of the package incident to thepassage of the package through the right hand openings 8, carrying thelabel with it. y Figures 24and 25 show diagrammaticaliy the manner inwhich the package engages the middle or intermediate portion of thelabel, and Figu-re 26 shows the manner in which the label is firstfolded over the end of the package.

The package with a label doubled or folded thereon, is next received bya folding mechanism comprising a tubular housing I21 which conforms inheight and width to the thick-v ness and width of the package, the'package with the label thereon being forced endwise through this housingby the plunger 9 du-ring its advancing stroke. This housing con- ,tainsa pair of end folders 22 which project inwardly from its opposite sidesand ae spaced from its upper and lower walls, these end folders beingspaced apart laterally av distance substantially equal to the width of ythevpackage so that as the package is advanced, these folders willengage the corners of the label and will produce the corner folds ashown in Figure 27. Beyond the end folders 22 are arranged a pair ofinclined side folders 23,which are adapted to receive the laterallypropecting lower edges of the label, as the latter is advanced, andthese lower edges of the wrapper will be folded upwardly and againstlthe longitudinal sides of the package as represented at Z) in Figure 28.The final portion of the ad vancingv stroke vof the plunger 9 carriesthe package, with the gpartially folded label thereon, to a seat 24which is, formed on the free end of a carrier 25, this carrier beingpreferably in the'form of. an arm which is fixed on a shaft 26. Ashoulder 27 may be formed on the arm 25 to arrest the advance of eachpackage in a predetermined position on the seat 24. It will beunderstood that the arm 25 is in its lowered position, as shown inFigure 2 at the time each package is advanced by the plunger 9.

When the package is received on the seat side folders engaged with thelongitudinal folds b to hold them in folded relation with thelongitudinal edges of the package' althoughv permitting the unfoldededges o of the label to project laterally lacross their upper edges.

The arm operates to swing the'package together w ith the partiallyfolded label thereon into a position to be acted on by mechanism whichvfolds and thus clos es the end of the label, and the movement whichAtransfers the' package and label to the end folding position is utilizedto fold the longitudinal edges o of thel label. For this purpose,'a pairof guide plates 28 is provided, these guide plates being spaced apartsufiiciently to provide a passageway for the of the arm 25 brings theprojecting edges c' of the label into engagement with the plates 28, andas the movement of the package continues between these plates the lattenfold the upper longitundinal edges of the label vdownwardly and inwardlyagainst the re- 'to a suitably shaped cam 42 on the operating sl1aft^43.The folders 29 arid`30 are carried by arms 44 and 45 which are fixed onthe shafts 32 and 33 respectively, the folders being prefcrably pivotedto these arms by the pivot pins 46 and 47 and the' angular relationshipof the folders withthe arms 44 and-451m be adjusted by set screws 48and'49, The olders are preferably curved to conformsubstantially withthe arcs through which they move during their advancing or foldingmotions, and the folders arepreferabl held yieldingly against their setscrews by compression springs 50 and 51 which permit the forward orleadingend's ofthe folders to yield to some 30 extent as they moveintoengagement with the package to elfectfolding of the label thereon, thefolders being thus able to accommodate themselves to slight variationsin the position of the end s of the packages and thus avoiding damagingthe label or the wrapper. The folder 31 which operates to make the-foldf, Figure 31, after the folders 29 'and 30 have made tle folds d and e,is mounted on.an arm 52 which is fixed in a shaft 53, the latter 9 beingsuitably j ournaled in the bracket 34 spective longitudinal sides of thepackage, and provided with an actuating arm 55 whichY the label thenhaving the form represented in Figure 29. At this time one end of thepackage is closed by the label doubled thereover and the adjacentcornersand the lon itudinal sides of the package are closed y the corner andlongitundinal folds, a, b, and

o. The opposite end ofthe label, however, is

unfolded, itsv edges projecting beyond that end of thepackage, the endof the package i being represented by the dotted line'y in vFigure 29.

horizontal position to a position substantially at an angle of 45 to thehorizontal to bring the package into position to eect folding of i theend of the label, 'the arm 25 being shown shifted `to bring'the packageto endfolding position in Figure 1. The label end-folding mechanismwhich is positioned t0 effect the end-folding operations comprises apair of companion folders29 and 30 which operate concurrently to producethe folds d and e as" shownin Figure 3 0, and a cooperative folder 31which makes the fold f as'sliown in Figure 31. The folders 29 and .30,as Figures 15, 16

and 17 show, are fixed on shafts 32 and 33 journaled in a bracket 34which isefixd on an upright 35 which is bolted or otherwise rigidlysecured to the table, these shafts being connected to rotatesimultaneously but in reverse directions by 'intermeshing gear segments36 which are i'x'ed to the respective shafts. One of these shafts i'sconnected by -f the bevel gears37to a shaft 38, the latter bestandingthe slight variations that may occur lfmin .the packages or thepositioning thereof with respect to the. end-'folding mechanisms.Y

o `The folder 31 is timed to operate after the Preferably, the packageISYCaIlled IOm il' folders 29 and 3() have made the .folds d and .e(Figure 30) and have been retracted,and 105 hence the AVfold .f made bythe folder 31 will be made against the outer sides of the folds' d ande,-as is shown in Figure 31. Y

Means is provided for'immovably'holding the 'package and its label inend-folding posi- 110 tion independently of the arm 25 in order thatthis arm, after bringing a vpackageto endfolding position may return toits former or initial position ready to receive another packthis purposewith intrnedflanges 28 which forni ledgeson which Vthe folded bottom of`the package --may rest, as isshowrn in FigureA 2, and pairs of upperandlowerpackage-hold-,

f ing and positioning arms 61 and 62 are fitted 120 into the guideplates 28 so that they may operl ate through openingsV in these guideplates.' These 'armsare formed with rojections 65 and 66 whichare'arranged to e engaged by the forward side of the package as thelatter/.1175Y is brought into end-folding position by the upwardswing ofthe arm 25, these projec 0 tions thus arresting -the-movement 0f thepackage when it reaches thadgsired osition, and these arms arealsoformecwith oulders i age. ff The .guide plates 28 are provided for 11567 and 68 which are arranged to engage the rear side of each package asit is tbrought into end-folding position, thereby preventingbaekwarddisplacement of the package when The arms are yieldingthe armrecedes. ly forced into package-engaging position and yieldingly held insuch position by springs 69 and 70 which are interposed between theouter sides of the plates 28 and the extremities of the lower arms, thearms being fixed to shafts 71 and 72 which are pivoted in shoulders 67and 68 anism operates sides of the plates 28 under brackets 73 securedto the outer sides of the plates 28, the springs 69 and 70 acting on theextensions 74 which are continuations of the lower arms. It will beunderstood that pairs of arms each connected by its respective shaft toswing-in unison .is provided to engage each package near its upper andlower ends and to thus hold the package immovably in endfolding positionwhile the end-folding mech thereon. These arms are `limited in theirinward swing by extensions 63 and 64 whichare formed on the lower armsand arearrang'ed to come against the outer the action of the springs 69and 70 and hence the arms will not obstruct the movement of a packageinto end-folding position. Also, to facilitate the introduction of thepackages between these arms,`.the inner sides thereof adjacent to theare beveled as at 75 and 76 thus forming inclined surfaces against whichthe edges of the packages may ride -and thus spread the arms apart toreceive the package as the latter is brought into endfolding position bythe operation of the arm 25. A After the end-folding `mechanism haserated to make the folds d, e and f, the package is advanced to a`position where a stamp or equivalent device, such` as a revenue stamp,

is applied, and according to the present invention, the movement of thepackage incident to its transfer from the end-closing position to thestamping position is utilized to effect the folding of the last end flapof the label or wrapper, it being understood from Figure 31' that theunfolded flap g -remainsfafter the flaps d, e and f have been folded.AAccordingly, a guard plate 77 is -fixed to the guide plates 28 at oradjacent to their outer peripheries, this plate being concentric with.the flanges 28:l over which the bottom ofthe package-travels, and thisguard plate extends from a point adjacent to the end-foldingmechanismtol the stamp-applying mechanism This'plate 77'will therefore occupy aposition in line with the unfolded upwardly projecting fia age isadvanced from t e end-folding position, the plate 77 will be engaged bythis flap g on a line which coincides substantially with the upperend'of the A the line of fold of tliis flap, and this flapwill be thusfolded down on to the previously 'by the arin 25 while y, andas thepackpackage which defines s .moreover, are connected to swing relativelyfolded flaps d, e and f at the upper end of the package, as is shown inFigure 32, thuseompleting the folding of the label against the end o fthe package.

The means provided by the present invention for transferring thelabeledpackages from the end-folding position to the stamping positioncomprises, preferably,a pair of arms 78 which are carried fixed to theshaft 26 `so that these arms will swing in arcuate paths and in unisonwith the arcuate-swinging movements of the'arms 25. The arms 78 arearranged to operate at the opposite sides of the arcuate package channelformed by the plates 28, and in order to enable these arms to engage andact successively on the packages contained in the channel between theseplates, the arms are provided on their inner sides with fingers 80, 8land 82 which extend inwardly through openings 83 formed in the plates28, these fingers being .positionedto engage the upper and lowerportions of the package substantially in the manner representedin Figure9 and thus insuring the advance of the packages without jamming in thepackage-guiding channel. The fingers`80, 81 and 82 are spaced tostraddle and thus clear the pairs of package-holding arms 61 and 62.

, Figure 2 xshows the arms 78 imposition behind aV package occupying theend-folding position, preparatory to the advance of such package to asubstantially upright position for stamping, this involving a swing ofthe arms 78 from the substantially 45 angle in a right hand direction inFigure 2 to bring the package into upright position, as shown in Figure1, and after the arms 78 have thus transferred a package from theend-closing to the stampin position, these arms swing back towardtlielleftin Figures 1 and2and thus bring the arms fingers thereon mayengage behind. another package occupying the end-folding position andwhich has been advanced to that position was being transferred to thestamping position. To enable the fingers on the arms 78 to pass thepackage occupying the end-folding position, during the back swing of thearms 78, ,these arms are so constructed and operated -that .they willarated or spread apart w ereby the fingers 'on these arms will bewithdrawn from the package channel between t e plates 28 during thebackward swing of the arms although v Y the fingers thereon will projectinto the package 'channel durin the forward or packageadvancing swing tereof. For this purpose, the ari'ns 78 are pivotedcto swing laterallyshown mounted on s afts 84 the axes of which are transverse to the shaft26.

These arms,

by a bracket 79 which is 78 into a position where the the precedingpackage 'on their supportinbracket 79, they being h toward and from oneanotherfi-n unisoiuthey 130 y being shown provided with lugs 85 and 86thereto, one of these chanically which are` integrally or rigidlyconnected lugs carrying a pin 87 which operates in a slot 88 in theother lug. By this arrangement, the arms' 78 are meconnected so thatthey will swing simultaneouslytoward and from one another,

although the axes of the pivot pins 84 extend i A transversely of theaxis Aof the shaft 26 and ure 2 showing the lously rides on theperiphery of compression spring posed between the arms age. inend-folding position to a substantial-v ly upright position which bringssuch package to the stamping position, and to return these arms topackage-receiving position. This will be clear Yfrom Figures 1 and 2,Figarms 25 and 28 in position to receive the respective packages andFigure 1 showing these arms after they have been shifted to bring onepackage to end-'folding position and to transfer the preceding package:from end-folding position to stamping position, the return motion ofthe arms 25 and 78 restoring-them from the position shown in Figure 1 tothat shown in Figure 2. Any

suitable mechanism may be employed to rotate the shaft 026 back andforth through this angle and at appropriate intervals to,V

thus eieet the advance or transfer of the packages, the shaft 26 beingshown provided in the present instance with agearpinion 89 which isiixed thereon'and a 90 which is pivoted on a stationary shaft 91 and isarranged to be rockedby a rod or link 92 which may be reciprocated I'byan appropriately shaped cam 92a The lateral movements of the arms 78about their pivots 84 may be eiected by a cam 93, loosely mounted torevolve on the shaft 26 and this cam may-be revolved continuously by asprocket wheel94 which may be -xedV to it and connected byra chain tothecontinurevolving shaft 43. A lug 95 is made integral arms 78, thislug carrying the cam 93. A 97 y is preferably inter- 78 to exert a forcewhich acts yieldingly tospread apart or relativelyV separate. thesearms. This-action of the spring also serves tov hold theroller 96 incontact with the cam 93. l

The operation of the arms 78 as Afollows. Assuming that these armsoccupy the position shown 1n Figure 1 immediately be- 'in Figure 9. Thisrocking shaft 26 continues until the arms 78 have regear segment .has.carried these arms from the position on .the shaft 201.

with or rigidly fixed to one of the p a roller 96 whichY .p

Lacasse hind a package which has been advanced to the stamping position,and that these arms are held in their inner positions so'that thefingers'80 and 81 thereon project into the package channel behind thepackage in stamping position, the roller 96 will then rest on the highpart of the cam 93. At this moment the shaft 26 is rocked to swing thearms 78 toward the left in Figure 1, this being effected by a downwardstroke of the rod l92 motion of the turned from the position shown inFigure 1 to that shown in Figure 2. However, while the shaft 26 receivesalternate rocking motions in 'reverse directions, the cam 93 revolvescontinuously so that at or about the time the reverse rotation of theshaft V26 begins, the high part of the cam 93 is carried past the roller96, this cam revolving in a right hand direction in Figure 1, and inconsequence to an extent which will' withdraw fingers 80 and 81 theroffrom the package channel be'- tween the plates 28 and they will beheldin such retracted position 'underV the action of the spring 97throughout the return stroke of thearms 7 8, thus enablin the spreadapart iingers 80 and 81 on these arms to pass a package occupying theend-folding position. Figure 13 shows the arms 78 in the positions thearms 7 8 are relatively separated the package tostamping position andbefore the-return stroke of' these arms has commenced, .the ngers on'these arms being shown projecting into the package channel beyond thepackage which has been advanced, and Figure 14 shows the arms 78immediately after they have been retracted and immediately prior to thecommencement of their return stroke.

When the return swing of the arms 78 shown in Figure 1 to that shown inFigure 2, the lingers 80 and 81 on these arms are in a plane behind therear side of a package occupying the .end-folding position, and thecontinuousrotation of the cam 93 will have brought .the high part ofthis cam into engageiiient with the roller 96, thus forcing the `latterupwardly'and in consequence causing both arms 78 to swing inwardly andthereby bring the fingers 80 and 81 thereon into the ackage channel ineach of the packages occuying the end-folding position, and the arms 78are held in their inner positions during the following swingthereof fromthe position shown in Figure 2 to `,that shown in Figure 1 to eHect theadvance, of thepackage from end-folding position to stampingposition,'by the engagement of the roller 96 with the high part ofthecam 93, this cam rotating in unison with the shaft 26 during the swingof the arms 78 from end-folding position to stamping' position. Thepackage occupying the end-folding position and. which is received by thearms 78 wfhpn the latter are swung backwardly and moved inwardly is heldby the positioning arms 61 and 62, and

in order to release the package from these arms and permit its advanceby the arms 7 8, the latter are provided with extensions 98 whichproject rearwardly therefrom and are rigid therewith, these extensionsbeing arranged to engage rollers 99 fitted in the extensions 74 of thearms 61 and 62, and as the arms 78 are forced inwardly by the cam 93 tobring the fingers 80 and 81 into position behind the package, theextensions 74-on the arms 61 and 62 are forced inwardly against theaction of the springs 69 and 70, the arms 61 and 62 being thus rockedabout their pivots 71 and 72, causing the projections 65 and 66 on thesearms to be withdrawn from the front o'f the package, substantially as isshown in Figure 11. During the initial partofthe upward swing of thearms 7 8, the arms 61 and 62 are held in package-releasing position bythe continued engagement of the rollers 99 with the extensions 98 on thearms 78, these rollers riding on thesev extensions as the arms 78advance, but after the package has been removed from the arms 61 and 62,

, the rollers 99 become disengaged from the extensions 98 and thesprings 69 and 70 then K act to return the arms 61 and 62 to their innerpositions ready to receive another package when the same is advanced tothe end-closing position by the arm 25. Figure 12 shows the packageremoved from the fingers 61 and 62 `and the latter released and returnedto^their inner package-receiving position. The ackage is then advancedto the stamping posi 1 n by the arms 78 as they 'swing to substant' lyupright position as shown in Figure 1.

Means is preferably provided for preventing the p-ackage from fallingback and otherv wise becoming displaced after it reaches the stampingposition. As shown, a pair 'of springs 100 are provided, these springsbeing att-ached to the respective guide plates 28 and having amormaltendency to project inwardly through openings therein into the packagechannel, the ends of these springs being so lo- 50 cated that they willengage the rear side of the package while the latter occupies stampingposition. The. package while being advanced to stamping positionencounters and spreads apart the springslOO so that Y it may .spass themwithout obstruction, but as soon as the package reaches stampingposition the ends' 'of the springs edges of the packages and snap intoposition behind the package, thus preventing the pack age from fallingback after. 'it has been broughtto 'stamping position. In addition, aspring actuated finger 101 is also preferably provided at the top of thepackage chan.- nel above the guard plate 77, this springfinger 05 beingpivotedat 102 to a bracket that may be 100-ride off the lateral.`

secured to the upper side of the plate 77, and a spring 103l acts on thefinger to press it downwardly so that it willv engage and pressyieldingly on the top of the package as the latter approaches andassumes the stamping position. This finger is located centrally of thewidth of the package channel and it engages the last folded end fla-p gand thus holds the same folded down against the top of the packagepreparatory to the application of a stamp across the top of the package.

The stamps may be fed to the packages from an appropriatemagazine by areciprocatory gripper 10i,v an example of mechanism suitable for thispurpose being disclosed in my prior Patent No. 1,188,747, granted June27, 1916. The stamp designated Z is drawn endwise across the top of thepackage while the end folds thereof are held down by the finger 101, thepackage at this time being located beneath the stamping mechanism.

The stamping mechanism is preferably mounted on the rigid standard orcolumn 35 .of the machine and it comprises a head 105 which is movablevertically in a guide 106 on the standard 35, this head beingreciprocated atsappro u-iate intervals by a lever 107 which may bedriven from a suitably shaped cam 107 on the shaft 201 and is connectedto the head by a link 108. A plunger 109 is fitted to move vertically inthe head 105,.the up er end of this plunger having an arm 110 fixethereto and extending laterally therefrom and cari rying a guide rod 111which is fitted to slide vertically in the upper portion ofv the head105 and acts to prevent rotation of the plunger. The arm 110 alsocarries an adjustable' stop consisting preferably of a set screw 112which is arranged in line with a stationary stop or abutment 113 fixedto the stationary guide 106. A compression spring 114, which mayencirclethe plunger bears -at one end against the .upper portion of thehead 105 and its lowerend bears on a shoulder on the plunger 109, thisspring thus acting to yieldingly hold the plunger 109 in loweredposition, relatively to the head 105, and the arm 110 is arranged toabut against the top of the head 105 and thereby limit the downwardmovement of the plunger relatively to the head.

The lower endof the plunger carries a block 115 the lower portion ofwhich is of a length and width to lit within the side and en walls ofapackage positioned below it,

this block being thus adapted to indent tl'e upper end of the packageand .to causethe su rounding side-and end walls o f the package to projeet upwardly above the indented portion.`

Means is also provided for crimping these npf standing edges on thepackage, crimpers 116 being site sides of the block and a pair of endcrimpersv 118 being pivoted at 119 to the opposite ends of the blok. Thelower edge of the block is provided with a notch 120 which will a pairof side pivoted at 117 to the oppo-

